Victoria Mgbanwa
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions are preparing for a crucial meeting next week with the Federal Government’s newly reconstituted committee tasked with renegotiating the 2009 agreements between the government and the unions.
The meeting is set to address ongoing disputes and concerns, although a specific date for the discussions has not yet been disclosed.
Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of ASUU, confirmed the upcoming meeting, emphasizing the unions’ hope for a positive outcome.
The renegotiation committee, reformed by the government in early October, is working under a three-month mandate to resolve lingering issues that have plagued the academic sector for years.
This latest round marks the fourth such committee since 2017, underscoring the prolonged nature of the negotiations. Previous committees were led by notable figures such as Wale Babalakin in 2017, Munzali Jubril in 2020, and Nimi Briggs in 2022.
The ongoing negotiations have been a source of tension, with ASUU’s prolonged strikes, including a nine-month work stoppage in 2020, leading to public outcry and disruptions in academic activities.
In response, the government set up committees in 2020 and 2022, but progress has been slow, and critical issues such as salary arrears, allowances, and infrastructure improvements remain unresolved. The latest committee was formed following ASUU’s recent ultimatum over the Federal Government’s failure to meet previous commitments.
The committee’s task is to review and renegotiate the terms of the 2009 agreements, which include demands for better wages, funding for universities, and improvements in working conditions. ASUU has expressed optimism that the next round of talks will yield substantive results.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) is also mobilizing to address similar concerns, particularly regarding the outstanding payment of salaries and allowances. SSANU will hold its 3rd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference on Wednesday, where it will discuss unresolved financial matters such as withheld salaries, the N50 billion in earned allowances, and the wage awards promised by the government.
SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim revealed that the upcoming conference would provide an opportunity for the association to push for the settlement of these issues and to reassert its commitment to the university system’s betterment. Ibrahim also noted that the conference would mark the beginning of SSANU’s electoral process, setting the stage for new leadership to guide the association’s direction in the coming years.
“The Committee hasn’t been dismantled, we are meeting next week to fully deliberate on matters regarding the agreements. We hope something good will come out of it.”
“Specifically, we are revisiting the matters of the outstanding 3 months’ withheld salaries, the N50bn in earned allowances, arrears of the 25/35 per cent increment, and the wage award.”
“The upcoming National Delegates Conference will also mark the commencement of SSANU’s electoral process, wherein new leadership will be elected to steward the affairs of this great association over the next four years.”
